Rian's POV
War is coming. Every instinct screams it.
But tonight, I'm stealing time. Just us. Before everything changes.
"Where are we going?" Luca asks as I blindfold him.
"Surprise. Trust me?"
"Always."
I lead him through the forest to the clearing where I first claimed him. It's transformed—candles everywhere, flowers, soft music playing.
When I remove the blindfold, his gasp is worth everything.
"Rian... this is where we met."
"Where I forced our bond. Where I took your choice." I pull him close. "I wanted to make new memories here. Better ones. Chosen ones."
Tears shine in his eyes. "You're impossible."
"I'm in love." I cup his face. "Dance with me? Please?"
We sway slowly under the stars, holding each other close.
"If something happens—" I start.
"Don't. Don't talk about that." His grip tightens. "We're surviving this. Both of us."
"But if I don't make it—"
"Rian—"
"Let me say this." I rest my forehead against his. "If I die protecting you, know that it was worth it. You were worth everything. Worth the fear, the obsession, the desperate claiming. Worth it all."
"Stop talking about dying and kiss me," he demands, voice breaking.
I do. Desperately. Pouring five months of love into that kiss—every moment from forced claiming to genuine devotion.
"I love you," I breathe between kisses. "Love you so fucking much."
"Then prove it." His hands work my clothes frantically. "Make love to me. Here. Where it started. Make it ours."
Under the stars, in the place where I stole his freedom, he gives himself to me freely. Willingly. Choosing me with every touch, every kiss, every whispered declaration.
"Yours," he gasps as we move together. "I'm yours by choice now, Rian. Not force. Choice."
Those words break me. I claim him thoroughly, desperately, worshipfully—showing him with my body what words can't express.
When we reach completion together, the bond flares brilliant. Our souls tangle tighter, stronger, unbreakable.
Later, wrapped in blankets under the stars, he traces my face.
"This is my favorite memory now," he whispers. "Not the claiming. This. Choosing you here."
"Mine too." I kiss his palm. "Thank you. For forgiving me. For loving me anyway."
"Thank you for being worth it." He smiles. "For becoming the man I could love. Not just the Alpha who claimed me."
We stay there until dawn, making love and talking and holding each other. Storing up memories for whatever's coming.
As the sun rises, painting everything gold, Luca sits up.
"Ready to face this?" he asks.
"With you beside me? Yes." I pull him close. "We're going to win, Luca. We're going to survive. And when this is over, I'm going to spend the rest of my life making you happy."
"You already do." He kisses me softly. "Now let's go kill a villain."
My fierce, beautiful mate.
Perfect.